Method and apparatus for pickling metal coils



S. NYBERG Nov. 4, 1941.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PICKLING METAL COILS Filed Jan. 5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1. MW II] Nov. 4, 1941. s, NYBERG 2,261,178

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PICKLING METAL COILS Filed Jan. 5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov, 4, 1941. s. NYBERG 2,261,178

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PICKLING MEITIAL'COILS Filed Jan. 5, 1940 V s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 4, 1941 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PICKLING METAL COILS Stone Nyberg, Dover, Ohio, assignor to Agnes J. Reeves Greer, Morgantown, W. Va.

Application January 5, 1940, Serial No. 312,550

(c1. 14s s) 6 Claims.

The invention relates to the pickling of metal, and more particularly to method and apparatus for pickling metal coils of the general nature as disclosed in Greer Patent No. 2,091,921, issued August 31, 1937; Shoemaker Patent No. 2,120,843, issued June 14, 1938; and Greer Patent No. 2,196,210, issued April 9, 1940; and the invention is more especially concerned with certain improvements upon the method and apparatus disclosed in the Nyberg and Cappel Patent No. 2,216,211, issued October 1, 1940.

The method and apparatus disclosed in the prior patents and applications referred to provide generally for the pickling, washing and treating of coils of metal supported upon mandrels upon which the coils are rotated as they are progressed through the tanks in which the coils are pickled, washed or treated.

The Greer Patent No. 2,196,210 discloses the alternate rotation of the coils in opposite directions, as they are passed through the various baths, for the purpose of opening up, or separating, the convolutions of the coils so as to permit free access of the solutions to all portions of the coils; and the Nyberg and Cappel Patent No. 2,216,211 discloses the rotation of the coils during the transfer period between tanks of the machine for more readily removing pickling acid or other solution from the surface of the metal before the coil is immersed in another bath.

It has been found that this removal of pickling acid or other solution from the coils may be facilitated by tilting the coils axially while they are being rotated during the transfer period, so that the pickling acid, or other liquid, may be drained axially through the coil as well as centrifugally displaced therefrom.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide means for tilting the coils axially during the transfer period and rotating the coils while they are in tilted position.

Another object is to provide means for stopping the forward movement of the coils during the time they are held in tilted position.

and operating the improved apparatus and method in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which ing description may be attained by constructing Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing the adjacent end portions of two tanks of a pickling machine with the interposed transfer arms for transferring the mandrels with the coils supported thereon from one tank to the other and means associated therewith for positively rotating the mandrels and the coils supported thereon throughout the greater portion of the transfer period and means for tilting the coils axially at one point in the transfer period and rotating the coils while in tilted position;

Fig. 2, a plan view of the portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1;

Fig. 3, a side elevation of the transfer mechanism showing a mandrel carried by the transfer arms and held in tilted position and arranged to be rotated while in this position so as to rotate the coil carried by the mandrel; and

Fig. 4, a transverse sectional elevation showing the transfer mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 3.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The invention may be carried out in a pickling machine of the same general construction as disclosed in the patents and applications above referred to with the improvements and additions to which the present invention pertains. I

Adjacent end portions, only, of the pickling tank and first washing tank with the interposed transfer means are shown, but it should be understood that the coil tilting and rotating means to which the invention pertains may be associated with the mechanism for removing the coils from any tank of the machine.

Referring to the mechanism illustrated, the discharge end of the pickling tank is indicated generally at I0 and the adjacent portion of the first washing tank is shown at H. These tanks may be of any required length consistent with "the speed .to which the coils are advanced therethrough to obtain proper pickling, washing or other treating of the coils as they are carried through the machine.

The rails I2 may be associated with the side walls of .the pickling tank at or adjacent to the top of the tank so that the mandrels supporting the coils may be rotated thereon throughout the length of the tank.

Each of the mandrels may be of the same construction as illustrated and described in detail in said Greer application and comprises generally a shaft [3 having a roller l4 fixed near each end thereof and adapted to travel upon the rails l2, and a sleeve l5 rotatably mounted upon the mandrel shaft and extending between the rollers I4 thereon.

An enlarged central portion [6 may be ormed upon the mandrel sleeve l5 and provided with the spaced annual grooves H for adjustably mounting the flange plates I8 upon the sleeve in order to accommodate coils of different widths. As shown in the drawings the coil indicated at 20 is mounted upon the enlarged central portion of the mandrel sleeve between the flange plates it.

A gear or sprocket wheel 2i is fixed upon each end portion of the mandrelshaft I3, preferably beyond the rollers M and is adapted to travel upon the toothed track 22 associated with the side walls of the pickling tank in the manner illustrated and described in detail in said Shoemaker patent and said Greer application.

As disclosed in both of the above mentioned cases, these toothed tracks may be fixed to any stationary portion of the machine adjacent to the pickling tank, such as the rails it.

An endless drive chain 23 is adapted to engage the upper side of each sprocket wheel 2i, and said chains may be located around sprockets 26 near each end of the pickling tank and preferably run beneath the longitudinal chain guides 25 to insure engagement of the drive chains with the sprocket wheels.

The chains 23 may be continuously driven in unison by means of the gearing illustrated generally at 26 and the drive shaft 27, being driven in the direction of the arrows shown in the drawings, whereby the mandrel shaft til is positively driven in a forward direction through the cooperation of the chains 23, sprocket wheels 2i and toothed tracks 22.

The mandrel sleeve l5is provided with the sprocket wheel or gear 28 fixed near one end thereof and adapted to ride upon the toothed track 29 associated with the adjacent side wall of the pickling tank for causing the mandrel sleeve to be positively rotated as the mandrel is moved forwardly over the tank.

The coil supported upon the mandrel sleeve will thus be rotated in the same direction and at the same speed as the mandrel shaft as disclosed in detail in said Greer application.

The transfer mechanism located between the discharge end of the pickling tank Ill and the entrance end of the first washing tank H includes the shaft 3|] journaled in bearings 3i, provided with a spaced pair of coil transfer arms 32 each arm having a coil transfer hook 33 at its free end, suitable gearing indicated generally at M may be associated with the transfer arm shaft 30 for operatively connecting the shaft to a motor or other drivingmeans arranged to be automatically operated as described in the above mentioned patents.

The hooks 33 of the transfer arms may be provided with toothed tracks or sections of fixed sprocket chain as shown at 35, for engagement with the sprockets 2| of the mandrel shaft. These hooks are preferably convex, as shown in the drawings, so as to form an arc of a circle drawn from the center of the shaft 30.

.- cluding an arcuate frame 36, supported upon the In said Nyberg and Cappel patent, the man- 1 adjacent end portions of the two tanks and provided on its under side with the substantially semi-circular toothed track 31, concentric with the shaft 39, and arranged to engage the sprocket wheel or gear 28 upon the mandrel sleeve i5, to rotate the mandrel sleeve, and with it the coil supported thereon, as the transfer arms are swung through the path of their movement.

The present invention consists in providing a break in the arcuate toothed track- 3'! at a point above the tank from which the coil has just been removed and means at this point for tilting the mandrel and the coil supported thereon axially so as to assist in draining the acid or other solution from the coil back into the tank containing said solution. Means is provided at this point for rotating the coil while in tilting position, the rotation being preferably in a direction opposite to the direction in which the coil is rotated throughout the greater portion of the transfer period.

Forward movement of the coil is also preferably stopped during the time that the coil is in tilted position.

This may be accomplished by providing a break at 38 in the arcuate toothed track 3?, at a point above the discharge end of the acid tank M], as shown in Fig. 1, so that when the coil reaches this point and is tilted in the manner to be later described, the acid will drain from the coil into th tank 10.

In order to tilt the mandrel and coil supported thereon axially at this point, a tilting mechanism is carried by the transfer arm 32 which receives the opposite end of the mandrel to that upon which the sprocket wheel or gear 28 is mounted.

This tilting mechanism includes a lever plate 39 fulcrumed at one end upon one end of the hook portion 33 of said transfer arm, as indicated at Ml and normally lying below the arcuate toothed track 35 of said transfer arm hook as shown in Figure 1.

The fluid cylinder 4| is provided for operating the lever 39 and may be pivotally mounted as at 42 upon a bracket 43 fixed upon the shaft 30 adjacent to the corresponding transfer arm 32, the piston rod M of said cylinder being pivotally connectedas at 45 to the lever 39.

For the purpose of rotating the mandrel sleeve and coil carried thereon while the coil is in tilted position a moving toothed track which may be in the form of an endless sprocket chain 46 is located at the break in the arcuate toothed track 31 in position to engage the sprocket wheel or gear 28 upon the mandrel sleeve.

For the purpose of illustration, the sprocket chain 46 is shown as driven from the gearing 26 which is interposed between the moving toothed track 23 and the motor 41 provided to drive the same, and as shown, moves in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1 so that the coil will be reis removed from the tank.

tated in the opposite direction to that which it rotates when the mandrel sleeve sprocket or gear,

28 is in contact with the arcuate toothed track 31.

In order to support the sprocket chain in adjusted position at the opening 38, the frame 36 is cut away at this point as indicated at 48 and a bearing bracket 49, located at a slight angle, as best shown in Fig. 4, is adjustably mounted upon the inclined portion 36a. of the frame 36 as by means of the bolts 50 and slots 5i.

Spaced sprockets 52 are joumaled upon the lower portion of the bracket 49' and the sprocket chain 46 passes over these sprockets and over a sprocket 53 mounted upon a shaft 54 journaled in the upper portion of the bracket 43 having a sprocket wheel 55 fixed thereon for cooperation with the drive chain 56 operatively applications.

Rails 51 may be supported inside of the tank ll adjacent to the side walls thereof at a point below the top of the tank to receive the flanged rollers I4 upon the mandrel shaft in such position that the coils may be entirely submerged within the washing or neutralizing solution in the tank.

Driving chains 58, similar to the chains 23 may be provided for engagement with the sprockets 2| upon the mandrel shaft for moving the mandrels with the coils supported thereon forwardly through the tank ll, these sprockets being adapted to ride upon the toothed tracks 59 which are associated with the rails 51 in the manner disclosed in said patents and applications and a toothed track 60 similar to the track 29 may be located in"the washing tank for engagement with the sprocket wheel or gear 28' upon the mandrel sleeve.

The usual curved guides 6| as shown in said patents and applications may be provided at the charging end of the tank ll for receiving the ends of each mandrel to guide the same into position upon the rails 51 and beneath the drive chains 58.

Although the transfer mechanism to which the invention pertains is illustrated, only, as located between the pickling tank and the first washing tank, it should be understood that simi-.

-lar mechanism may be located at the discharge -end of any or all of the tanks so as to tilt and rotate the mandrel and coil supported thereon to remove surplus liquid from the coil as it In the operation of the machineithe passage of the coils, upon the mandrels, through the .pickling tank may be the same as disclosed in detail in the patents and applications referred to, and as each coil reaches the discharge end of the pickling tank the mandrel supporting the same moves out of engagement with the upon the mandrel sleeve engaging the arcuate toothed track 31 and rotating the mandrel sleeve and coil carried thereby counterclockwise.

As the transfer arms reach the position shown in Fig. 3, positioning the mandrel at the break 38 in the toothed track 3! the movement of the transfer armsmay be stopped and the cylinder 4| may be operated to raise the lever 39, raising the adjacent end of the mandrel and tilting the mandrel and coil in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

At this point the sprocket wheel or gear 28 of the mandrel will be engaged by the moving toothed track or chain 46, which with the construction illustrated will rotate the mandrel sleeve and coil in a clockwise direction while in tilted position whereby the surplus liquid will be quickly removed from the coil and drained back into the tank l0 by a combination of centrifugal force and gravity.

When the-coil has been sufiiciently drained the cylinder. 4| may be operated to lower the lever 39 below the level of the hooked portion 33 of the transfer arm and the clockwise movement of the transfer arms may be resumed, the sprocket wheel or gear 28 upon the mandrel sleeve being again brought into engagement with the arcuate toothed track 31 so as to rotate the mandrel sleeve and coil carried thereby in counterclockwise direction throughout the remainder of the transfer period, at the end of which the mandrel'with the coil supported thereon is received in the curved guides GI and delivered to the tracks and drive chains of the washing tank ll.

It has been found in actual operation of the machine as illustrated and described herein that the coils will be substantially completely dried by rotating them in tilted position for a period of from 8 to 15 seconds.

The'use of this invention has been found to be very beneficial as iteliminates any stains upon the metal due to the acid.

It has been found by experience that if any acid is trapped between the convolutions of the coils before they are entered into the washing tank, this frequently results in stains upon the metal.

With the use of the present invention the coil being continually rotated while it is in tilted position all of the acid is quickly drained from between the convolutions at all points of the coil, thus eliminating any possibility of acid stains upon the pickled and washed metal.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of myinvention and described one embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that within 'the scope of the appended claims the invention tracks and drive chains and is received into the hook ends 33 of the transfer arms 32.

These transfer arms are then operated to move in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure l of the drawings, the sprocket wheel or gear 28 may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described, the invention residing in the tilting and rotation of the coils supported upon the mandrels as they are discharged from one of the tank's, regardless of the mechanism *by which this may be accomplished.

I claim: Y

1. The method of pickling, washing, or treating a coil of metal "supported upon a mandrel which includes transferring the coil from one bath :to another bath, rotating the coil around -its axis throughout the entire time it is being 2. Apparatus for pickling, washing or treating a coil of metal, including two tanks containing liquid, a mandrel upon which the coil is supported, arms between the tanks having hooks thereon for engaging the end portions of the mandrel, means for oscillating the arms to transfer the mandrel with the coil thereon from one tank to the other, means for rotating the coil around its axis throughout the entire time of said transfer, means associated with one arm for raising the adjacent end-of the mandrel to tilt the coil axially, and means for rotating the coil around its axis while in tilted position.

3. Apparatus for pickling, washing, or treating a coil of metal, including two tanks containing liquid, a mandrel upon which the coil is supported, arms between the tanks having hooks thereon for engaging the end portions of the mandrel, means for oscillating the arms to transfer the mandrel with the coil thereon from one tank to the other, means for rotating the coil around its axis throughout the entire time of said transfer, means associated with one arm for raising the adjacent end of the mandrel to tilt the coil axially, a sprocket wheel upon the mandrel, and a moving toothed track for engaging said sprocket wheel to rotate the coil around its axis while in tilted position.

4. Apparatus for pickling, washing or treating a coil of metal, including two adjacent tanks containing liquid, a mandrel upon which the coil is supported, transfer arms between the tanks, each arm havinga hook at its ends for receiving the mandrel, means for moving the transfer arms between the tanks for transferring the coil from one tank to the other, a sprocket wheel upon the mandrel, a toothed track located in the path of said sprocket wheel and having a break therein at one point, a moving toothed track located at said break and arranged to engage said sprocket wheel and means for tilting the mandrel axially while the sprocket wheel is in engagement with said moving toothed track.

5. Apparatus for pickling, washing or treating a coil of metal, including two adjacent tanks containing liquid, a mandrel upon which the coil is supported, transfer arms between the tanks. each arm having a hook at its ends for receiving the mandrel, means for moving the transfer arms between the tanks for transferring the coil from one tank to the other, a' sprocket wheel upon the mandrel, a toothed track located in the path of said sprocket wheel and having a break therein at one point, a moving toothed track located at said break and arranged to engage said sprocket wheel, and means associated with one of the transfer arms for tilting the mandrel axially while the sprocket wheel is in engagement with said moving toothed track.

6. Apparatus for pickling, washing or treating a coil of metal, including two adjacent tanks containing liquid, a mandrel upon which the coil is supported, transfer arms between the tanks, each arm having a hook at its ends for receiving the mandrel, means for moving the transfer arms between the tanks for transferring the coil from one tank to the other, a sprocket wheel uponthe mandrel, a toothed track located in the path of said sprocket wheel and having a break therein at one point, a moving toothed track located at said break and arranged to engage said sprocket wheel, a lever mounted upon the hook portion of one transfer arm and means for operating said lever for tilting the mandrel axially while the sprocket wheel is in engagement with said moving toothed track.

STONE NYBERG. 

